AC Conditioners?

I think it depends on how you define "functionality". It is my understanding that the filtering qualities of a "line conditioner" will remain indefinitely. I have been told, however, that the ability of the conditioiner to protect from power surges does diminish over time (which is also darn important) A garage manufacturer of such products informed me that the part (I can't remember the part name) that handles surge protection fails with age and that even computer type cheapy power strips utilize the same technology as is in most hifi conditioners. This reminds me....you can get surge protection insurance from you local power company(cheap) in case of disaster (because home insurance would not cover electrical surge damage).

I too have had good results with Chang Lightspeed. They have different models depending upon your system/needs ranging from quite affordable (the 3200) to somewhat more expensive (6400 or 9600 or 9900) but none considered high-priced. Changs are also nice because they don't constrict dynamics. The internal M.O.V. (metal oxide varistor) transient protection devices are good ones that don't degrade. Cheaper (low power rated) MOV's can deteriorate if they're hit enough times with large enough transients; however this is not usually an issue unless you take a direct lightening hit. Mike VansEvers has some nice stuff & it's tunable for your rig too. Have never tried them, but have read a lot of good things & Mike is a good guy to deal with (he worked with me on some other power issues). His recommendations regarding affordable way to fabricate a dedicated power line worked wonders for me! See this thread for details http://audiogo1.iserver.net/cgi-bin/forum5.pl?asund&963328979&read&3&4&Bob_bundus&53wNWQ6xyzUcg

I've taken flack for my opinion on power conditioners in the past, but what the hell, here I go again. There's no doubt the quality coming out of the wall is garbage, no need for debate there. One of the distinguishing feaures of most high end gear is attention to detail in their power supply design. Massive supplies, with no holds barred parts quality, deal with the shortcomings of your local electric company. Conditioning the AC so these sophisticated supplies essentially sit idle is redundent at best, and certainly a waste of money. I'd invest in a conditioner if I had mid-fi gear, but that really doesn't apply to most of us that frequent this site. Time to put the body armour on and dodge the bullets...

I use a Monster HTS2000 power conditioner with good results. I live in LA and have a very dirty power supply. It may restrict the dynamics somewhat but it is hard to tell because without it the background noise level is much higher, and there is as well a very noticable drop in detail. My system sounds better and more musical with the Monster and it was only $125.00 mail order. I also run my amp through one of the special "amp" outputs (that claim to not restrict power/dynamics) with better results than straight into the wall. I guess that it all boils down to which is the worse of two evils in your particular situation. My gear is not expensive but is also not midfi.

I live in Chicago and have the lesser of the evils syndrome as well. I use a newcastle conditioner and the noise it reduces is nicer to listen to than the garbage on the line. My system is about 25K retail, so I do not think I am at a Mid-FI level. I mainly use the conditioner in case of spikes and browns. In the spring and the fall I do plug directly in the wall between midnight and 4am to realize what my system can do -- and it does some things better on the conditioner and others better on the wall outlet. Trade-offs galore...